Associate ProfessorThe University of Auckland: Politics and International Relations

Biography

Dr Jennifer Lees-Marshment is a research-led but practice-oriented academic.

Author/editor of 13 books, a world expert in political marketing, she was A-rated in the 2012 NZ research assessment (PBRF) and is predicted an A for 2018.

She was Academic Advisor to TVNZ’s Vote Compass (2014, 2017) and Kiwimeter (2015) initiatives, engaging over a million members of the public in discussing politics and policy and facilitating the University and TVNZ partnering to host the first ever 1 News Young Voters Debate in 2017. Jennifer has presented her research to government staff and won the International Associaton for Public Participation Research Award for Australasia and was appointed to Chair the NZ Magna Carta 800th anniversary committee and promote commemorations by government, professional and educational organisations. See this video on how her research had impact through Vote Compass.

In her teaching Jennifer seeks to embed transferrable skills and develop employability, and her innovative course The Practice of Politics explores the nature, suitability, skills and ethics needed to get and succeed when working in politics, government and IR. She created an online resource Teaching the Practice of Politics for other colleagues who wish to teach their own employability course.

Research | Current

Dr Lees-Marshment researches the relationship between politicians, government and public opinion, mainly through the field of political marketing, and more recently, political leadership and political management.

Postgraduate supervision

Dr Lees-Marshment can supervise graduate research in political marketing, political management, political parties and elections, political communication, political leadership, government and public consultation and government management/marketing. Previous students have worked on topics such as market-oriented parties, market-oriented communication of leaders, political public relations, branding government departments, e-marketing, party participation, e-consultation, nation branding and tourism marketing. Jennifer runs a Political marketing and management network for current and former students, encouraging her graduates to be an active group and attend events such as campaign launches and TVNZ debates in the 2014 NZ election. Her last 3 Masters students obtained jobs immediately after completing their thesis. Check out this video with MA student Tom James who developed a passion for working in market research whilst studying under Jennifer, and got a job with Colmar Brunton with his role including research for government.